*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

Sigh. Such high hopes. First off, I have no idea why this book is titled Burning Glass. I hate when that happens. I mean maybe I missed something, but I don't think so. Maybe that will be revealed as the series continues. Speaking of series, I'm not sure why this needs to be a series as things wrapped up pretty nicely I think. Anyway, let's get into it.

I really struggled with Sonya. She is so easily overcome by the feelings and emotions of others. I mean that's part of the whole conflict of this book, but it didn't endear her to me. While at the convent, Sonya is supposed to be learning how to tame and harness her abilities. I'm not sure if Sonya wasn't interested in doing so because she was just more interested in other things or if it was because she never expected to end up needing to use her abilities in the way that she does. Either way, I think she should have known that allowing other's emotions to overcome her would be extremely dangerous. Yet she never really showed any interest while at the convent to learn how to control herself. That coupled with what felt like some inconsistencies surrounding her ability made this book a little harder for me to get into and read than I would have liked.

Ever since trilogies such as The Hunger Games and Divergent, I've noticed that so many books/series start off with this alternate world or culture and before the end of the book/series the characters are trying desperately to transform their world into something very similar to ours. This is often in the form of corrupt government and equal rights. Why can't these books just have different cultures and different governments without it turning into the same as we have? I don't read about kingdoms and emperors to read about them turning into a government for the people by the people.

The romance was hard to connect to as well. I don't know if that stemmed from my struggles with Sonya herself or if the relationship just wasn't what it should have been. I didn't feel anything, and apathy is the last thing I want to feel toward the romance in my books. I want to feel all the feels. And Burning Glass left me a little cold.

Burning Glass was just okay for me. I didn't connect to the main character or the romance. And I found myself annoyed with the political aspects of the book. I'm giving Burning Glass 2.5 Stars. Have you read Burning Glass? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, February 28, 2016

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~
It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Don’t forget to sign up for the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15, 2016 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor’s always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that’s what is expected of a senator’s daughter. But one impulsive decision—one lie to cover for her boyfriend—and Taylor’s kicked out of private school. Everything she’s worked so hard for is gone, and now she’s starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor’s escape from the pressures of school and family, but it’s hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she’s going through is her older brother’s best friend, Ezra. Taylor’s had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it’s hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Since the January Wrap Up, I finished one series ender: Split Second (Pivot Point, # 2) by Kasie West. Holly also finished one series ender this month: Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements, # 3) by Jennifer L Armentrout.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the January giveaway runs from January 25rd - February 25rd. On February 25rd we will use random.org and the linky entries from all months to pull a winner.

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--After a harrowing journey across the country, Leah Westfall and her friends have finally arrived in California and are ready to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Lee has a special advantage over the other new arrivals in California—she has the ability to sense gold, a secret known only by her handsome best friend Jefferson and her murdering uncle Hiram.

Lee and her friends have the chance to be the most prosperous settlers in California, but Hiram hasn’t given up trying to control Lee and her power. Sabotage and kidnapping are the least of what he’ll do to make sure Lee is his own. His mine is the deepest and darkest in the territory, and there Lee learns the full extent of her magical gift, the worst of her uncle, and the true strength of her friendships. To save everyone, she vows to destroy her uncle and the empire he is building—even at the cost of her own freedom.

The second epic historical fantasy in the Gold Seer trilogy by Rae Carson, the acclaimed author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

I can't say that I completely loved Walk on Earth a Stranger, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

YAY another Colleen Hoover book! Colleen Hoover is guaranteed to suck me into her stories and make me fall in love with her characters. It's why I love her books so much. She has a unique gift and is one of my auto buy authors. The fact that I'm notoriously cheap doesn't even come into play with her books either. I buy them on release day or pre-order them almost every single time. That being said, I added November 9 to my TBR list when there wasn't even a description out for it. When I did hear what this book was supposed to be about I felt a little wary. It sounded a bit like One Day (the movie with Anne Hathaway). And funnily enough, Colleen Hoover actually touches on this in November 9 in a preemptive attempt to combat the argument that the stories are too similar. Okay CoHo. We get it. They're not the same and shouldn't be compared.

Truthfully, I'm not even sure what all I can say about this story without ruining anything. That's usually the way things go with Colleen Hoover's books. There's always a twist that can't be spoiled. I will say that part of the ending felt eerily similar to the ending for Confess. Yes different, but similar in some aspects that I can't discuss. Sorry CoHo. I had to.

I can say that I thought Fallon was a great main female character. She has flaws that anyone can relate to. And even though she does hide away and let her low self-confidence dominate her life, she's able to listen and take criticism and grow and change. And change she does over the 5ish years that this book takes place. There were a couple of times that I found her to be a bit dramatic and extreme, but who doesn't have a friend out there that swings toward dramatic and extreme every now and then.

Ben...I fell in love with. He swoops in to Fallon's rescue not because he doesn't think she can handle herself, but because he just can't sit by and do nothing. Of course, his motives may have been a bit skewed, but what do I care? He does everything he can to show and tell Fallon that he thinks she's beautiful despite and because of what she sees as her biggest flaws. What female out there doesn't want THAT GUY in her life? Then he's a writer on top of all of that. SWOON. Just swoon. And I absolutely love that Ben doesn't hold back from telling Fallon what she needs to hear even when it isn't what she wants to hear or what any normal person would say.

I can't imagine being able to leave someone you have such an intense connection with for an entire year with no means of communicating with them. I can see the reasoning behind why no communication. Like Fallon, I'm sure I would have folded and changed all of my plans--I'm weak when it comes to love. But I guess I can see the appeal of having an entire year to anticipate seeing that person again.

I will say that I felt Colleen Hoover was a little defensive in this book. As I mentioned already, she defends against this story being too similar to others, but she also defends against insta-love--or at least relationships that progress quickly. I know a lot of readers take issue with relationships that jump to love when they don't feel like the characters have spent enough time together or had enough time to get to that stage. Usually this doesn't bother me. And it has been a very dominant theme through almost all (if not all) of Colleen Hoover's books so far. So while the insta-love doesn't bother me, I did note what felt like defensiveness in her writing.

Of course, Colleen Hoover's books are always quote worthy. I did highlight, but not nearly as much as I normally do. Here are my favorite quotes:

-"I didn't think you needed rescuing. I just sometimes find it difficult to control my indignation in the presence of absurdity."

-"I love to read. You should hurry up and write a book, because it's already on my TBR pile."

-"People don't feel uncomfortable when they look at you because of your scars, Fallon. They're uncomfortable because you make people feel like looking at you is wrong. And believe me--you're the type of person people want to stare at."

November 9 hooked me like all Colleen Hoover books. The humor is present. The great writing. The characters you can't help but love. And twists that always make things deeper and more interesting than you could have imagined. Everything that makes Colleen Hoover's books fantastic is within November 9. And that's why November 9 gets 4.5 Stars from me. Have you read November 9? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~
It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

You guys! My baby girl turned 4 months old yesterday! I cannot believe how fast time is going by. She's not rolling over really yet, but she gets on her side so I just know it won't be long. She's laughing periodically too. It's rare but it's the cutest sound in the world. Along with her jibber jabbering. I also got a haircut on Thursday. Man that was overdue as it had been since September that I've had one. It feels so good.

Monday: Review of November 9 by Colleen Hoover
Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Read Last Year That Were Out of My Comfort Zone
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday: 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge - February Wrap Up

Don’t forget to sign up for the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15, 2016 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society's mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied - and too glorious to surrender.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Discussions Only We Know

11 Popular Authors I Haven't Clicked With

Okay guys, since these are popular authors I recognize that many of you will likely be fans. I'm not insulting you. I'm not insulting these authors. I'm just saying that unfortunately I haven't really clicked with these authors. Several of them I've read and actually enjoyed a book or two, but the more I've read the more I realize these guys just aren't for me. I'm also not looking for you to try to convince me that I'm wrong. I feel pretty confident in my decision to not really pursue reading these authors in the future.

Melissa Marr - I enjoyed Wicked Lovely, but this series just went downhill for me. I haven't read any books outside of this series by this author, but I just find that I'm not interested either.

Julie Kagawa - Ok guys, I've read 4 and 1/2 books by her (The Immortal Rules, The Eternity Cure, The Iron Daughter, The Iron King, and The Iron Queen) and none of them were all that good to me. I just felt "meh" about them all. And the biggest negative to me was probably the slow pacing.

Melissa de la Cruz - Okay so I read a good portion of her Blue Bloods series. The first four books I enjoyed, but things went downhill and looking at the description of her other books nothing else has enticed me to pick it up.

PC Cast - Similar to Blue Bloods. I was interested in the House of Night series until 8 books in and the plot had not progressed. And if nothing else, the characters felt like they'd gotten dumber instead of smarter.

Becca Fitzpatrick - I enjoyed Hush, Hush, but as the series progressed I didn't see too much to keep me hooked. And like Melissa de la Cruz, none of her other releases have seemed interesting enough for me to check out.

Lauren Kate - I read Fallen right around the same time as Hush, Hush. I feel similarly towards both series, but also, like the House of Night series, I almost feel like the characters haven't advanced at all really.

Rachel Hawkins - I read Hex Hall and that was enough to show me that nothing too impressive (for me) was going on.

Jennifer Estep - I read A Touch of Frost and it wasn't bad. But it was just typical. It fell into too many cliches for me I think.

LJ Smith - Okay so I read most of the Vampire Diaries series and her Night World series. The Night World was so repetitive. She basically changed the characters but the plot stayed the same. And after seeing what the TV show did with Vampire Diaries...yeah I'm not much impressed here either.

Mira Grant - Fans love her Newsflesh and Parasitology series, but boy was Parasite slow for me. I only read that one, but after seeing Holly review Feed I'm certain that Mira Grant and I aren't meant to mesh.

Shannon Dermott - Another author that I was sucked in at the beginning, but as her books began to progress I felt like her writing got worse and the plot just didn't move forward.

What about you guys? Have you ever read an author that everyone raved about or seemed to like and you just didn't see it?

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About Me

I wear my hair up alot - grew up a bit of a tom boy. With one brother and one sister, I played football with the boys as much as barbie dolls with the girls. I love romance and I married my best friend. God has blessed me. And I want to return the favor.

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